My Companion Somewhat Excused The People By Saying That The House
Was Really Full Of People Who Had Been At Work In The Neighbourhood,
And Now Slept There.
But that they had refused me a bit of bread he
certainly could not justify.
As we went along, other topics of
conversation were started, and among other things he asked me where
I came from that day.
I answered from Nettlebed, and added, that I had attended divine
service there that morning.
"As you probably passed through Dorchester this afternoon," said he,
"you might have heard me preach also, had you come into the church
there, for that is my curacy, from which I am just come, and am now
returning to Oxford." "So you are a clergyman;" said I, quite
overjoyed that, in a dark night, I had met a companion on the road,
who was of the same profession as myself. "And I, also," said I,
"am a preacher of the gospel, though not of this country." And now
I thought it right to give him to understand, that it was not, as I
had before intimated, out of absolute poverty, but with a view of
becoming better acquainted with men and manners, that I thus
travelled on foot. He was as much pleased with this agreeable
meeting as myself, and before we took a step farther, we cordially
shook hands.
He now began to address me in Latin, and on my answering him in that
language, which I attempted to pronounce according to the English
manner of speaking it, he applauded me not a little for my correct
pronunciation. He then told me, that some years ago, in the night
also, and nearly at the same spot where he found me, he had met
another German, who likewise spoke to him in Latin; but this unknown
countryman of mine had pronounced it so very badly, that he said it
was absolutely unintelligible.
The conversation now turned on various theological matters; and
among others on the novel notions of a Dr. Priestly, whom he roundly
blamed. I was not at all disposed to dispute that point with him,
and so, professing with great sincerity, a high esteem for the
Church of England, and great respect and regard for its clergy, I
seemed to gain his good opinion.
Beguiling the tediousness of the road by such discourse, we were now
got, almost without knowing it, quite to Oxford.
He told me I should now see one of the finest and most beautiful
cities, not only in England, but in all Europe. All he lamented,
was, that on account of the darkness of the night, I should not
immediately see it.
This really was the case: "And now," said he, as we entered the
town, "I introduce you into Oxford by one of the finest, the
longest, and most beautiful streets, not only in this city, but in
England, and I may safely add in all Europe."
The beauty and the magnificence of the street I could not
distinguish; but of its length I was perfectly sensible by my
fatigue; for we still went on, and still through the longest, the
finest, and most beautiful street in Europe, which seemed to have no
end; nor had I any assurance that I should be able to find a bed for
myself in all this famous street. At length my companion stopped to
take leave of me, and said he should now go to his college.
"And I," said I, "will seat myself for the night on this stone bench
and await the morning, as it will be in vain for me, I imagine, to
look for shelter in a house at this time of night."
"Seat yourself on a stone!" said my companion, and shook his head.
"No, no! come along with me to a neighbouring ale-house, where it is
possible they mayn't be gone to bed, and we may yet find company."
We went on a few houses further, and then knocked at a door. It was
then nearly twelve. They readily let us in; but how great was my
astonishment, when, on being shown into a room on the left, I saw a
great number of clergymen, all with their gowns and bands on,
sitting round a large table, each with his pot of beer before him.
My travelling companion introduced me to them, as a German
clergyman, whom he could not sufficiently praise for my correct
pronunciation of the Latin, my orthodoxy, and my good walking.
I now saw myself in a moment, as it were, all at once transported
into the midst of a company, all apparently very respectable men,
but all strangers to me. And it appeared to me extraordinary that I
should, thus at midnight, be in Oxford, in a large company of
Oxonian clergy, without well knowing how I had got there.
Meanwhile, however, I took all the pains in my power to recommend
myself to my company, and in the course of conversation, I gave them
as good an account as I could of our German universities, neither
denying nor concealing that, now and then, we had riots and
disturbances. "Oh, we are very unruly here, too," said one of the
clergymen as he took a hearty draught out of his pot of beer, and
knocked on the table with his hand. The conversation now became
louder, more general, and a little confused; they enquired after Mr.
Bruns, at present professor at Helmstadt, and who was known by many
of them.
Among these gentlemen there was one of the name of Clerk, who seemed
ambitious to pass for a great wit, which he attempted by starting
sundry objections to the Bible. I should have liked him better if
he had confined himself to punning and playing on his own name, by
telling us again and again, that he should still be at least a
Clerk, even though he should never become a clergyman.
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